The IOC joins the sports response to the invasion of Ukraine, calling for all sporting events in Russia and Belarus to be canceled or relocated … with Russian and Belarusian flags and anthems banned after violating the “Olympic truce”
The International Olympic Committee has taken the unprecedented step of calling for all sporting events in Russia and Belarus to be canceled or relocated.
IOC condemns two nations for violating “Olympic truce”, which ends just seven days after winter Paralympic Games closes next month and aims to promote peace.
And now they have called on all international sports federations – the governing bodies that monitor the Summer and Winter Olympics – to abolish or move upcoming competitions, as well as to ban the display of Russian and Belarusian flags and the reproduction of anthems.
Russia is expected to host the World Short Course Swimming Championships in December, as well as the Men’s Volleyball World Championships in August and September.
In a strong statement Friday, the IOC said: “The IOC today calls on all international sports federations to relocate or cancel their sporting events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach at the Winter Olympics
The Russian Grand Prix in Sochi has been canceled for this season’s Formula One campaign
The Formula 1 team Haas removed the brand of the Russian sponsor Uralkali from their car and released it in all-white livery on the last day of the tests in Barcelona on Friday
WAR IN UKRAINE: LAST
- Russia has said it does not want to negotiate with the Ukrainian government until the military operation is over
- This came after Zelenski called for talks to end the fighting
- Ukraine has said Russia has bombed 33 civilian sites in Kiev in the past 24 hours
- Two children were killed in the attack in Kiev last night
- Ukraine bans men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country to enlist in the armed forces
- Russia is sending paratroopers to Chernobyl after capturing it yesterday, Moscow said
- Ukraine reports “abnormal” levels of radiation at the plant amid fears that the nuclear storage facility was breached during a battle, but Moscow said the readings were normal.
- Russia claims to have destroyed 118 Ukrainian military sites in 30 hours of fighting
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised more support in Ukraine in the coming days
- Johnson shared a phone call with Zelensky on Friday morning
“They must take into account the violation of the Olympic truce by the Russian and Belarusian governments and give absolute priority to the safety and security of athletes.
“Furthermore, the IOC insists that neither the Russian or Belarusian national flag nor the Russian or Belarusian anthem be displayed at international sporting events that are not yet part of the relevant World Anti-Doping Agency sanctions on Russia.”
Despite IOC intervention, the International Paralympic Committee will still allow Russian athletes to compete in the Beijing Games, which start on March 4, which means they can face athletes from Ukraine and Britain.
The Formula 1 team Haas removed the brand of the Russian sponsor Uralkali from their car and released it in all-white livery on the last day of the tests in Barcelona on Friday
Russian armor is now advancing on Kiev from the north and east, with US intelligence saying the plan is to besiege the city, seize an airport and launch paratroopers who will then attack the capital. The goal would be to take over the government and force them to sign a peace treaty that would restore control of the country to Russia or to a Russian puppet.